Boost crop monitoring with new RGB-IR camera

RGB-IR cameras can expertly step into this role by capturing visible and near-infrared (NIR) light data to provide critical imaging insights. It helps product developers unlock the imaging potential of crop monitoring applications while equipping farmers to improve crop health and yield.

Spectral sensitivity for crop monitoring

See3CAM_CU83’s spectral sensitivity sets it apart in the field of crop monitoring, as it provides a dual approach to capturing visible and NIR light. So, farmers gain a well-rounded view of crop health and detect stress factors proactively.

RGB channels for visual health assessment

In the visible spectrum, RGB channels ensure the detection of clear, observable indicators of plant stress. Colours in the red, green, and blue wavelengths highlight signs of plant health or distress. The visual assessment is important for recognizing symptoms like yellowing or browning leaves, which may indicate issues such as disease, pest invasion, or nutrient imbalances.

NIR sensitivity for proactive monitoring

Beyond what can be seen with the naked eye, the NIR sensitivity of the RGB-IR camera provides an invaluable advantage for proactive crop monitoring. As you may already know, NIR data is crucial for identifying stress before it appears visibly.

Healthy plants reflect a lot of NIR light, while stressed plants reflect much less. Farmers can, therefore, detect early-stage stress indicators such as water deficits, nutrient imbalances, or disease presence well before these stressors lead to visible damage. These proactive insights enable timely interventions, helping preserve plant health and prevent crop loss.

Combining RGB and NIR for deep insights

The integration of RGB and NIR capabilities within a single RGB-IR camera offers a complete monitoring solution. Farmers can capture immediate, visible indicators and less apparent, early-stage signs of stress, giving a complete picture of crop health.

For instance, combining red and NIR data helps calculate the NDVI (Normalized Difference Vegetation Index), a widely used metric that assesses plant vigor and biomass density. Thus, farmers can identify low-vigor zones that may require additional resources like water or fertilizer, optimising resource distribution across the field.

Crop monitoring use cases

Early stress detection using infrared data

In many cases, crops display early stress signs in the NIR spectrum before they become visible in the RGB channels. See3CAM_CU83 detects such shifts in NIR reflectance so that farmers can identify potential issues like water stress, nutrient imbalances, or disease onset long before these stresses would be noticeable through traditional visual inspections. Such timely detection drives corrective measures for preserving crop health and optimising yield.

Vegetation health monitoring with NDVI

The RGB-IR camera’s ability to capture red and NIR wavelengths enables farmers to utilise the NDVI metric. NDVI maps highlight areas within a field that require more water, fertilizers, or attention. So, farmers can identify such zones early and distribute resources more intelligently to improve overall crop productivity.

Visual monitoring using RGB channels

While NIR data provides an early warning system, RGB channels still play a major role in crop monitoring. The RGB spectrum lets farmers visually monitor crop colour changes caused by disease, pest attacks, or nutrient deficiencies. RGB imagery supports manual inspections and complements NIR data.